Feb. 3, 2007
Final Stats in PDF Format
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Game Notes For Game #2 - Sunday at 1 p.m.
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Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The rain went away just in time for the first pitch at Jay Bergman Field Saturday, but Florida International spoiled UCF baseball's 2007 opener with a 5-3 victory. It was the second-straight year that the Golden Panthers defeated the Golden Knights in a season opener.
UCF starter Kyle Sweat lasted 5.1 innings, giving up three runs to earn the loss. He finished with 50 strikes in 76 total pitches, and was able to keep the Knights in the game throughout the day. In his first game in a Black and Gold uniform, Brandon Romans went 2-for-4 with a run scored and made two memorable defensive plays, a putout at home and caught a runner trying to steal second.
After each team went down in order in the first, UCF got a huge scare in the top of the second. With Tyler Townsend on first after connecting for the game's first hit, Ryan Mollica drilled a double off the bottom of the wall in center field. Tyson Auer collected the ball and hooked up with second baseman Dwayne Bailey, who in turn fired to Romans behind the plate. The relay was almost perfect as Romans had plenty of time to block the plate and tag out Townsend.
UCF responded by taking the lead in the bottom half. Romans led off with the Golden Knights' first hit of the season, a single between second and third. Although starting pitcher Corey Polizzano got two quick fly outs, he allowed Romans to reach second on a wild pitch. Following a hit by pitch to Chris Duffy, Eric Kallstrom ripped a single to right center to plate Romans and take a 1-0 lead.
The Golden Panthers struck back in the fourth thanks to a two-out RBI single from Mollica, then threatened in the sixth. With two runners in scoring position with one out, Mitch Herold relieved Sweat and loaded the bases with a walk. Herold managed to strike out Mollica, but Corey Lozano placed a 2-1 pitch into center that went off Auer's diving glove for a three-run triple.
FIU then provided UCF with two runs in the seventh. At the plate with Bailey on first and two down, Auer bunted his way aboard. It looked as though the Golden Panthers would get out of it when Ryan Richardson grounded to Manuel Arrojo at short. However, Arrojo booted it to allow Bailey to score. A walk loaded the bases and a passed ball brought Auer in to score, making it 4-3. UCF could not get even with FIU, though, as it left the tying run aboard in the seventh, as well as the eighth.
Florida International added one more run in the top of the ninth to seal the win.
The two teams conclude the two-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. showdown at Jay Bergman Field. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.
GAME NOTES
- UCF is now 21-14 in season openers.
- FIU moved its all-time record against UCF to 49-42.
- Junior transfer and second baseman Dwayne Bailey was very active early on. He assisted on four of the first five outs of the game, and finished with six assists and two putouts.
- A total of 864 people braved the cool weather at Jay Bergman Field, donning mostly sweatshirts and blankets throughout the contest.